Swelling on head just above eyes

First of all, what are the little hollows right above the eyes called? Second, Belle's are swollen. Both of them. She looks like she has four eyes. They are a decent size and very puffy, like soft to the touch. She doesn't really like for them to be touched, but isn't terribly bothered by it. What could have caused this and is it serious?

IR, Cushings can cause it, also obesity, don't know what else. My old horse had that for several years, then they just went away. I didn't have any other "signs" of metabolic issues, but was sure happy when his "dents" came back.

I did some research on Cushings and Belle matches a few other symptoms, but not many. She is a rescue that was in a BAD way when we got her. My research says that Cushings is inhanced by stress. Correct me if I am wrong. Wouldn't she have been stressed then and the "dents" swollen at that time?

I would get your horse checked for IR and Cushings.
My IR mare gets these when her blood sugar goes up a bit.
They come and go at different times.
I would use that as an indicator should she come back IR or Cushings.
My mare showed a normal blood sugar but low thyroid on the first test and months later it showed a high blood sugar so I recommend at least 2 tests spaced apart for definate diagnosis.

I would get your horse checked for IR and Cushings.
My IR mare gets these when her blood sugar goes up a bit.
They come and go at different times.
I would use that as an indicator should she come back IR or Cushings.
My mare showed a normal blood sugar but low thyroid on the first test and months later it showed a high blood sugar so I recommend at least 2 tests spaced apart for definate diagnosis.

Click to expand...

Thank you very much. If you don't mind, can you tell me how much the test costs? And maybe tell me more about IR? I am unfamiliar with this.

The depressions above the eyes are the temporal fossa (a large depression in the skull at the temporal bone) and it's where the top of the bone of the lower jaw fits into the skull and moves to allow chewing. You can see swelling in this area with obesity, IR, Cushing's disease, or local infections.